Shopify Buy 2 Get 1 Free Setup: 3 Effective BXGY Tips

If you’re a Shopify merchant looking to increase your average order value (AOV), clear out inventory, or simply give your customers a compelling offer, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up buy 2 get 1 free campaigns on Shopify, utilizing both Shopify’s native features and powerful third-party apps, along with three practical tips.

What is Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Shopify?

Buy 2 get 1 free (often called B2G1 or “buy two, get one”) is a promotional strategy where customers purchase two items and receive a third free. It’s one of the most effective ways to encourage bigger purchases while making customers feel valued. Let’s explore how to create buy 2 get 1 free offers on Shopify using two proven methods.

Different Types of Buy 2 Get 1 Free Promotions and Why They Work

There are several ways to add B2G1 free offers on Shopify:

• Same Product Promotions: Buy 2 of the same item, get 1 identical item free. Perfect for products customers typically buy in multiples (like skincare, supplements, or basic clothing items).
• Mixed Product Promotions: Buy any two items from a collection and get the cheapest one free. Great for encouraging customers to explore different products in your catalog.
• Tiered Promotions: The more they buy, the more they save. For example, buy 2 get 1 free, buy 4 get 2 free, and so on.

Why is Buy 2 Get 1 Free a good deal?

Buy 2 Get 1 Free promotion is a good deal because of 4 main reasons:

• Increased Average Order Value (AOV): Customers spend more to qualify for the deal.
• Inventory Management: Perfect for moving surplus or seasonal items.
• Customer Satisfaction: Creates a sense of receiving extra value.
• Competitive Edge: Stand out from competitors with compelling deals.

B2G1 promotions typically boost AOV by 15-30%. For example, a store with 100 daily orders at an average of $50 could generate $750-$1,500 in extra daily revenue, resulting in up to $45,000 per month in additional sales.

Customers perceive these promotions as receiving something extra rather than merely paying less, thus maintaining a premium brand image while boosting perceived value. This strategy works exceptionally well for beauty, skincare, apparel, and CPG categories where customers often buy multiples.

How to Set Up Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Shopify

Now that you understand the potential impact, let’s explore 2 ways to implement B2G1 campaigns on your store.

Option 1 – Using Shopify’s Native Discount Tool

Step 1: Log into your Shopify Admin > Click Discounts on the left-side menu.
Step 2: Click on the Create discount button on the top right screen > Select Buy X Get Y promotion.
Step 3: Set up Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Shopify

• Choose the Automatic discount for a seamless customer experience (No code needed).
• Fill in the Discount title.

In Customer buys,

• Set minimum quantity to 2 items.
• Choose specific products or collections to include.

In Customer gets, set the quantity to 1 for any specific items or collections.

Step 4: Under Advanced conditions

• Set a discounted value of free or 100% for the percentage.
• Set usage limit to 1 per customer to prevent promotion abuse.
• Enable POS integration to sync in-store promotions (if applicable).
• Combine B2G1 with product discounts or shipping discounts to test the promotion performance.

Step 5: Activate the promotion

Schedule your campaign > Click Save discount.

While Shopify’s native tool works well for basic campaigns, growing stores often require advanced features such as A/B testing and smart product recommendations. Here’s how third-party apps can help.

Option 2 – Set Up Buy 2 Get 1 Free with Third-Party Apps

AOV Free Gift & BXGY is one of the best free gift apps on Shopify that offers various promotional types, such as Buy X Get Y (BXGY), Buy One Get One (BOGO), Gift with Cart Value (GWCA), etc.
This app helps e-commerce managers configure campaigns effortlessly with AI-driven tools. Its A/B testing feature allows you to test and compare which campaign converts better to create a seamless customer experience.

General app information:

• Rating: 4.9/5 (459 reviews)
• Developer: AOV.ai (by Avada)
• Pricing: Free plan available, $19.99–$49.99/month
• Free plan: Yes

Best for:

• Stores with large product catalogs that want to run multiple promotions.
• Non-English-speaking merchants or small teams that require an intuitive setup.
• Professional merchants who want advanced features.

Here’s how to implement B2G1 promotions using this app:

Step 1: Create campaign

• In the AOV Free Gift & BXGY dashboard, click Create campaign.
• Choose Buy X Get Y campaign type, then Create.

Step 2: Set up Buy 2 Get 1 (B2G1) Free offer

Name your B2G1 campaign clearly (e.g., “Buy Two Get One Free”).

In Customer buys, set the purchase condition (X):

• Choose the minimum quantity of 2 to trigger the offer.
• Select the specific product(s) or collections.

In Customer gets, define the reward (Y):

Specify which product(s) or collections are given for free.

Pro tip: You can enable A/B Tests to evaluate your offers for different conditions (e.g. Turn on Buy X Get X if you want to offer the same gift as what Customer buys).

Step 3: Set Additional rules

• Add combinations of product, order, and shipping discounts as needed.
• Schedule the start and end dates for your promotion.
• Limit the total number of uses to 1 per customer.
• Apply to all customers or specify customer segments to receive this deal.

Step 4: Save and Activate

Click Save at the top. Your B2G1 offer is now live.

Step 5: Test the Offer

Add selected items to your cart and verify that the Buy 2 Get 1 Free discount applies correctly at checkout.

As for Shopify beginners, you can also try these apps’ free plans and trials to choose the best Buy 2 Get 1 app for your Shopify store.

Having the right setup is just the beginning. To succeed with buy 2 get 1 free promotions, you need to implement smart strategies that grab attention and drive conversions.

3 Tips to Set Up Effective Buy 2 Get 1 Free Promotions on Shopify

Configuration is just the first step. These three strategies will maximize your campaign performance.

1. Clear message

Instead of just saying “Free item,” be specific about the savings. For example:

• “Buy 2 Moisturizers, Get 1 FREE (Save $45!)”
• “Add 2 to Cart, Get Your 3rd Item on Us”
• “Triple Your Order, Pay for Only 2 Items”

Clear value communication helps customers understand exactly what they’re getting and how much they’re saving.

2. Choose the right gift

The right gift creates value for your customers, not just any free items. For example, if your customer buys 2 floral maxi dresses, a free rattan hat is more valuable than a free notebook. Always choose relevant, complementary products as free gifts to maintain profit margins.

3. Urgency boost

Limited-time deals create urgency that drives faster purchasing decisions:

• “48-Hour Flash Sale: Buy 2 Get 1 Free”.
• “While Supplies Last: B2G1 Free on All Summer Items”.
• “Weekend Only: Triple Your Skincare Routine for the Price of 2”.

An urgent promo creates a FOMO (fear of missing out) feeling that encourages customers to make purchases to avoid missing out.

These promotional strategies will help you reach a wider audience, but even the most effective campaigns can encounter issues. Let’s dive into the most common challenges you might face and how to solve them effectively.

5 Common Challenges and Solutions for B2G1 Campaigns

Here are the most common issues Shopify merchants face with buy 2 get 1 free campaigns and how to manage them.

1. App conflicts and compatibility

Different apps can sometimes conflict with each other or your theme. Test that your B2G1 app works properly with your theme and any upsell features. You should use a free gift app with responsive in-app chat support and in-app previews, such as AOV Free Gift & BXGY.

2. Theme integration issues

Some Buy 2 Get 1 Free apps offer basic widget styles, which might not match your store’s design. Most quality third-party apps now offer customizable designs to match your brand’s visuals and create a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

3. Profit margin concerns

Giving away free items can impact profitability if not planned correctly. Both Shopify discount tool and third-party apps offer advanced conditions of percentage and fixed amount. You can give away your overstock products as the free gift and combine discounts for high-priced items to protect your profit margins.

4. Customer abuse

Sometimes, your customers abuse the offers by using them multiple times or combining them with other promotions. Setting the usage limit to 1 to prevent make sure no promo abuse.

5. Inventory risk

Inventory risk happens when you offer out-of-stock items as free gifts. It affects your average order value and interrupts the purchase experience since your gift is unavailable. Apps like AOV Free Gift & BXGY automatically exclude out-of-stock items from promotions.

Key Takeaways:

• Start with Shopify’s native features if you are a first-time merchant.
• Upgrade to apps like AOV Free Gift & BXGY for advanced promo rules and a better user experience.
• Always display your promotions clearly and create urgency.
• Plan your inventory and profit margins carefully.
• Test different strategies to see what works best for your audience.

Conclusion

Buy 2 get 1 free promotions are one of the most effective ways to boost your Shopify store’s sales, increase average order value, and make customers feel like they’re getting incredible value. You now have everything needed to launch successful buy 2 get 1 free promotions that boost sales and delight customers.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Shopify FAQs